Even though the result wasn’t different from Saturday night in Nashville, the effort lacking then was certainly back tonight. The Carolina Hurricanes fell 2-1 to the Philadelphia Flyers in what was a close-checking, tight game all the way up until the final horn. The Canes were stride-for-stride with the Flyers throughout the game, but they just couldn’t find the equalizer. “Everyone put a really good effort in tonight,” head coach Kirk Muller said. “I never felt like there was a time that we were out of the game. We worked hard, and it was a close game.”

Look no further than the statistics to see how closely fought this game was: shots favored Philadelphia 37-36, the Canes out-hit the Flyers 21-20 and Carolina had a slight edge in face-offs, 52 to 48 percent. Despite the effort being present, defenseman Bryan Allen said, in the end, the results are what the Canes need. “We had the effort and the game plan we want to go forward with, but we’ve got to find a way to win,” he said. Jerome Samson scored his first National Hockey League goal tonight, a power play tally in the second period. Justin Faulk took a shot from the point, Sergei Bobrovsky made the save and Samson was in the right spot to take care of the rebound. It’s been a long time coming for the 24-year-old, and it was a great moment to see. Jussi Jokinen scooped up the puck and handed it to Samson to cap off the sequence. “I got the call last night. It was a long drive by myself. The butterflies started last night,” he said. “I just tried to bring the game I’m playing down there up here.”

It was Muller’s first look at Samson tonight, and he was impressed with what he saw. In addition to power play time, Muller rewarded Samson with time on the top line late in the third period, which saw Samson nearly score the tying goal off a great feed from Eric Staal. Samson ended up logging 13:26 of ice time, a career high. “I thought he had opportunities tonight,” Muller said. “Some were just by hockey sense finding the right area and others he created.” Muller added that it’s now about consistency for Samson, should he remain with the team. (He is up on emergency recall for a day-to-day Chad LaRose.) Jaroslav Spacek took a puck to the face midway through the second period. He left the game and did not return. Muller said after the game that he hadn’t yet had a chance to check on Spacek’s status. “Hopefully he can rebound,” Muller said. “He’s a tough guy, and he usually does.”

Recap (Associated Press)

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) - Sean Couturier scored the tiebreaking goal 3:23 into the third period and the Philadelphia Flyers beat the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 on Tuesday night.

Brayden Schenn had the Flyers' other goal and Sergei Bobrovsky made 35 saves. Philadelphia is 18-3-3 against the Hurricanes since the start of the 2006-07 season, including 10-1-1 in Carolina.

Jerome Samson scored his first NHL goal for the Hurricanes, who were 4-0-1 in their previous five home games. Carolina has dropped four five overall.

Cam Ward made 35 saves for the Hurricanes, and the game was close throughout despite the disparity in records.

The Flyers entered the night four points behind the New York Rangers at the top of the Eastern Conference, while the Hurricanes were ahead of only the New York Islanders.

Philadelphia wanted to make amends for its performance Sunday against Ottawa. The Flyers blew a two-goal lead in that game and lost 6-4, and Daniel Briere described his team's effort as "soft" afterward.

With the score tied at 1 early in the third period, Couturier received the puck near the Carolina blue line along the right boards. He accelerated forward and beat Ward on the blocker side with a shot that stayed just inside the left post.

After a scoreless first period, Philadelphia opened the scoring early in the second. Ward originally stopped Wayne Simmonds' attempt on the rush, but Schenn was in front and cleaned up the rebound.

Carolina tied the score on the power play. Justin Faulk slapped a shot from the high slot, and the rebound came to Samson, recalled from the Hurricanes' minor league affiliate in Charlotte earlier Tuesday. Samson beat the outstretched Bobrovsky and had a wide grin on his face when he got back to the bench.

Philadelphia's top line of Claude Giroux, Scott Hartnell and Jaromir Jagr was held without a point for the third straight game.

NOTES: Carolina's Chad LaRose missed the game with an upper-body injury. ... Hurricanes D Jaroslav Spacek took a wrist shot off the face in the second period. He did not return to the game.